Winter-sole for boots and shoes



(Nu Model.)

T. SHAW. Winter Sole for Boots and Shoes.

No. 241,733; Patented May 17,1881.v

WITNESS S. INVENTOR 'ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WINTER-SOLE FOR Boers AND SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 241, 733, dated May 17, 1881.

A Application filed December 1, 1880. (No modch) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SHAW, of the cityand county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Winter-Sole for Boots and Shoes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the provision of numerous isolated metallic points projecting slightly from an elastic sole of a shoe, arranged in the manner and for the purpose as hereinafter described.

The object of the invention is to furnish a sole for boots and shoes that offers great frictional resistance to sliding motion when in contact with ice, whether wet or dry, to avoid the serious accidents that usually attend pedestrians while traveling upon icy sidewalks.

()u reference to the accompanying drawing which forms part of the specification, the fig-' ure represents a section of a sole of a boot, of whicha. is the leather portlon, and 1) represents a rubber sole secured to the ordinary leather. sole by nails or cement, or by any of the 0rdi-.

nary methods of securing gum soles to leather soles. The gum sole 1), preparatory to being secured to the leather sole',.is provided with numerous metallic points, a, which points are formed and secured in position by driving tacks, nails, screws, or staples through said gum sole, all from the inner side of said gum sole, so that when in place on the leather sole of a leather boot, or the gum sole of a gum boot, the heads of said tacks, nails, 850., will rest between the soles, as shown, thus preventing the escape of said nails, and offering a foundation-support for the nail-heads when in use.

The operation of the metallic points in combination with the gum is favorable for walking upon carpets,witli little or no injury to the carpet, as it will be observed that the metallic points are nearly or quite flush with the under 3 surface of the gum, when walking upon soft material, as carpets, &c., whereas when any hard substance, as stone or ice, is troddlen upon the gum yieldsslightly around said points, causing the same toproject slightly, and thus ofterresistance to any sliding movement, which resistance is proportionate to the number of metallic points, all operatin gin the same manner, as occasion requires. Thus at one and the same time are secured a durable sole for boots and shoes, and an effective iee'creeper.

It will be observed that the nails, with their heads resting against the sole of the shoe, are susceptible of considerable lateral motion, independent of each other, within the limits of the elasticity of the gum sole, the head of the tack or nail serving as a kind of pivot to permit a rolling motion, which is highly favorable for preserving the metallic points against breakage.

It will be evident that these soles can be variousl y fashioned, and can be manufactured from various elastic materials, and secured in position by various methods, without any alteration in the result. I therefore do not wish to confine myself to any exact materials, shape, or methodof fastening.

I am aware that metallic frames with serrated projections have been combined with rubber soles, and do not claim, broadly, the combination of a rubber sole and metallic points, my invention consisting in the use of independent nails whereby to obtain a secure hold without detracting from the flexibility of the sole. The isolation of the points is important, as thereby each can have a slight vibrating motion independent of the others, permitting them to yield without breaking and without necessarily bending the sole.

I elaim A sole for shoes, &c., consisting of a sole of elastic material and a series of studs or tacks embedded in said sole, their heads at the inner side and their points flush, or nearly so, with. the outer side of saidsole, all as set forh.

Witnesses:

WM. B. HUGHES, T. FRANK MILLER. 

